Mumbai police apprehended actor and influencer Sahil Khan over his purported involvement in the Mahadev betting application case. Khan asserted that despite promoting the Mahadev betting app on his Instagram account, he hadn’t received the promised payment of Rs 3 lakh per month.
In 2023, the Mumbai Crime Branch summoned Sahil Khan and three other actors for questioning in the Mahadev betting application case. Khan failed to appear and continued posting on social media, even sharing a poolside picture with the caption “Good morning, Jumma Mubarak.” The Crime Branch’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) tracked Khan to Chhattisgarh and arrested him after a 40-hour operation. So far, 32 individuals linked to the betting application scam have been apprehended.
Despite filing for anticipatory bail in the high court, Khan’s application was denied, and he was remanded to four days of police custody until May 1.
Khan’s lawyer, Mujahid Ansari, argued that his client was a victim and had merely agreed to promote the app on his Instagram page under a contract promising Rs 3 lakh per month for 24 months. However, Khan hadn’t received any payment. Ansari emphasized that Khan wasn’t responsible for any damages or losses.
The police revealed that Khan had changed locations multiple times to evade capture, reportedly moving through Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gadhchiroli, and Chhattisgarh. The government reportedly lost approximately Rs 15,000 crore in taxes due to non-payment through the Mahadev betting application.
The Mahadev betting app scam began on January 1, 2019, when it was launched on various portals, attracting millions of users. The accused enlisted celebrities to promote it on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google pages. The app facilitated online betting on sports and casino games, but the operators allegedly evaded taxes.